Sci-Fi Books for Kids (Age 8-11)

Continuing our Sci-Fi adventures, from the Sci-Fi for the littles, we’re going to look at some now for an older group of kids! This is aimed towards kids age 8-11. ***(see note below). They’re all chapter books and full of adventure!

I am a woman of simplicity. I like to get straight to the point so here we go!

10 Great Sci-Fi Books/Series for Kids Age 8-11:

Zita the Spacegirl Series:

This trilogy is amazing! The main character, Zita, is faced with many problems and she lives up to her name in solving them! She is a Spacegirl, after all. Aliens, rescues, friendship, evil, adventure. What more could you ask for in a sci-fi book?!

When her best friend is abducted by an alien doomsday cult, Zita leaps to the rescue and finds herself a stranger on a strange planet. Humanoid chickens and neurotic robots are shocking enough as new experiences go, but Zita is even more surprised to find herself taking on the role of intergalactic hero. Before long, aliens in all shapes and sizes don’t even phase her. Neither do ancient prophecies, doomed planets, or even a friendly con man who takes a mysterious interest in Zita’s quest.

Zita’s exploits from her first adventure have made her an intergalactic megastar! But she’s about to find out that fame doesn’t come without a price. And who can you trust when your true self is being eclipsed by your public persona, and you’ve got a robot doppelganger wreaking havoc . . . while wearing your face?Still, if anyone can find their way through this intractible mess of mistaken identity and alien invaders, it’s the indomitable Zita, in Legends of Zita the Spacegirl.

Zita the Spacegirl has saved planets, battled monsters, and wrestled with interplanetary fame. But she faces her biggest challenge yet in the third and final installment of the Zita adventures. Wrongfully imprisoned on a penitentiary planet, Zita has to plot the galaxy’s greatest jailbreak before the evil prison warden can execute his plan of interstellar domination!

With a Chewie book on the littles page, I felt necessary to add a Star Wars book for the older kids too! Added benefits? Pictures of the new movie cast on the front. Have you seen the new movies? Have your kids? This is perfect for them if they have or haven’t yet, they’ll recognize their characters in the movie from the book! Plus this book will be one you’ll keep for a long time. Star Wars, duh!

A companion piece to the “Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens” character novels, Star Wars: Before the Awakening is an anthology book that focuses on the lives of Rey, Finn, and Poe before the events of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Wild? Robots? I’m in already! This is an adorably cute book (just kidding, kids.. ahem.. boys don’t like ‘cute’, but I’m a mom so, cute it is.) This book is about questions, adventure, purpose, and best of all, friendships! A best seller and definitely one you’ll want to explore with.

When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is–but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a fierce storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island’s unwelcoming animal inhabitants.

Lets go back to space with this one. Have you picked up your copy yet? It’s been out for a while but it is definitely one to grab. It’s about a high school kid who wins the prize of a spacesuit! He wishes to use it… in the future but, oh, well, read the synopsis: (giggles internally while I try not to tell you the whole story!)

First prize in the Skyway Soap slogan contest was an all-expenses-paid trip to the Moon. The consolation prize was an authentic space suit, and when scientifically minded high school senior Kip Russell won it, he knew for certain he would use it one day to make a sojourn of his own to the stars. But “one day” comes sooner than he thinks when he tries on the suit in his backyard — and finds himself worlds away, a prisoner aboard a space pirate’s ship, and heading straight for what could be his final destination….

Well, my kids said ‘eewweeeee… mushrooommsss’ in their super winey voices. But, give them a book and they read. And wow did they read! This series was a hit in my house even for my plug their nose, stick out their tongues, mommy eating mushrooms is the most disgusting thing in the world, kids. >.<

In print since the 1950s, the Mushroom Planet series is back with a new design by illustrator Kevin Hawkes. Don t miss the adventures of Chuck and David, two boys who travel to the alien planet Basidium in their homemade spaceship. This timeless series is a classic that is sure to be read over and over again.

OK my boys LOVE video games. We don’t play them often but maybe that’s why, they relish their time with them. Like THIS BOOK which my oldest read in one sitting, Trapped in a Video Game is a series about, well, being trapped in a video game! Also, another series he could not put down. Begged me for time to read. Yea, my kid, the one who only a year ago cried about having to read a paragraph on a piece of paper. Oh Joys, read about that here. *laughs*

Jesse Rigsby doesn’t even like video games. Yet, here he is with a blaster stuck to his arm, a man-sized praying mantis thing chasing him and…is that the Statue of Liberty taking off like a rocket ship? Something weird is going on, and Jesse had better figure out what it is fast, because he’s about to be trapped for good. Trapped in a Video Game is the first in a series of fast-paced, funny thrillers that will keep kids reading well past bedtime.

I wrote a whole post about this series because it’s worth a whole post. It’s funny, very entertaining, ups, downs, finding out who you are, battling bullies and broccoli and.. well… go check it out yourself!

Who doesn’t like ninja’s? Point made. *sticks tongue out like I’m actually in 6th grade*. There are 11 of these books! Ten! Keep your kid occupied for days as the immerse themselves in this series. Check out all of the books here.

My name is Chase Cooper, and I’m a 6th grade ninja. It’s my first day at a different school and the only person I know is my cousin, Zoe (but she might be a little too cool for me). I was just another scrawny kid until a group of ninjas recruited me into their clan. It was a world of trouble I wasn’t prepared for, which is why I kept this diary (or “chronicle” as my dad would call it) – to warn other kids about the dangers of becoming a ninja. They say history is destined to repeat itself… well, not if I can help it.

Franny K. Stein is not your average girl — she’s a mad scientist. She prefers poison ivy to daisies and piranha to goldfish, and when Franny jumps rope, she uses her pet snake.
Being a mad scientist is exciting, but it does have its drawbacks. From fending off giant monstrous fiends to getting a lab assistant to battling her own teenage self, Franny has her hands full! Join her on her first four wacky, weird, creepy adventures and find out why Franny is everyone’s favorite mad scientist.

Evil Genus? Computer hacking? Studying for a world domination degree? Geeky, freaky, funny. Evil is in the title! This is a cute book, switching perspectives to the evil guy in the story. There are three books in the Genus Series

Cadel Piggott has a genius IQ and a fascination with systems of all kinds. At seven, he was illegally hacking into computers. Now he’s fourteen and studying for his World Domination degree, taking classes like embezzlement, forgery, and infiltration at the institute founded by criminal mastermind Dr. Phineas Darkkon. Although Cadel may be advanced beyond his years, at heart he’s a lonely kid. When he falls for the mysterious and brilliant Kay-Lee, he begins to question the moral implications of his studies. But is it too late to stop Dr. Darkkon from carrying out his evil plot?

That’s definitely not all of the great sci-fi books for the between kids. (Between littles and pre/teens) It’s a good start though! Grab some of these books and read them yourself or let the kids dive in and get lost in adventure.

Don’t forget to ask them about the story after! They LOVE telling you what happened.

Well, if they’re like my kids, who non-stop talk. Unless they’re reading! *Sips tea and settles into my own book*

Need a bookshelf to hold all your kids books? If you don’t like the one I posted at the end of this post, try this bookshelf. I have this one too! I love it because it goes perfectly in their room, the older kid can put his books (and lego masterpieces) on top so they aren’t touched and the little one holds all of his Thomas the trains and paw patrol toys in the bottom!

***When I put ages on these posts, I want everyone to know that they’re not set in stone! If your kids are more or less interested in certain books or if they’re like mine and have read a billion books out there and find interest in a group above (or below) their age, let them! Reading is reading and I promise as long as it’s appropriate for them, based on your beliefs and the way you teach/raise your own child, they will be learning. Not only learning but they’ll be exploring, making new friends, finding new emotions.. etc. It’s all a learning process. 🙂 We couldn’t ask for more as parents!

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About Author

Miss Lyss

I'm a single mother. I am a homeschooling mother. I take classes myself. I cook, I clean, I dance, I run around, I sing crazy songs (only in front of my kids ;) ), I write, I travel, I craft, I love! There are so many things that moms and us women do! Come on this journey through life with me.